Convertible furniture.



H. M. SVEBILIUS.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE,

APPLICATION FILED Jun/17. 1915.

Patented July 25, 1916,

UNITED STATES FATE QFFIQE.

HENRY IVI. SVEBILIUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PULLMAN COUCH COIVI- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VCONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

To all whom it'may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY M. Svnmnms, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that classof convertible bed devices in which a foldable bod bottom comprises a plurality of sections, part of which must be retained in folded relation when the same are rotated as a unit during a part of the folding and unfolding operations, in such manner as to hold the bedding in place in made-up form, as for instance, the three outer sections of a five-see tion sofa bed whenbeing swung toward or away from the head section.

Many different locking means have been devised heretofore in which a latch carried by one of two sections registers with and en gages a certain part or shoulder on the other section when the bed is folded, but such devices usually are unreliable because of possible failure to register properly, especially when the bed is operated unskilfully. As soon as the joints begin to wear loose, they permit more or less twisting or racking of the sections, so that the latches often fail to register with the coacting parts. When the locks fail to operate, the sections swing apart in overturning and cause trouble by letting the bedding collapse and the bed bottom does not fold properly.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of automatic lock for holding part of the sections in folded relation, and more particularly to hold the foot section of a five-section bed bottom in spaced folded relation upon the middle section while the foot and middle sections are folded over as a unit upon the head section; to provide a bed section lock which shall be definite and positive in action and shall always be dependable to secure the sections locked together automatically, and which shall not become subject to inaccuracy of operation due to looseness and wear at the joints; to provide improved automatic leg control means coacting with the section locking means; to provideforspringing the leg and lock into and out of folded position by pushing down or lifting the leg respectively in folding and unfolding the foot section; and

more specifically to provide improved locking means at or near the adjacent edges of the main sections to belocked, and to arrange the locking means so as to extend coactively at all times from one of said sections to the other and operate uniformly and definitely by the folding and unfolding of said sections. I

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward part of the bed bottom in its unfolded or bed position. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and shows one side of the bed bottom, an automatic lock, and leg folding means. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the foot section folded over and locked in spaced relation upon the middle section, ready for swinging said sections as a unit over upon the head section, the adjacent end of which only is shown. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the forward end of the bed bottom and legs in unfolded or bed position. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the two outer sections in their folded position substantially as in Fig. 3, but with the leg raised sufliciently to release that resilient part of the lock which is directly controlled thereby. In the construction shown in the drawings, the foldable sectional bed bottom comprises a head section 5 an inner connecting section 6, a middle section 7 an outer connecting section 8, and a foot section 9, said sections being hinged together at 10, 11, 12 and 13. Said bed bottom may be attached to or mounted in a supporting frame (not shown) in any of the various ways well known in the art to which this invention relates. As usually made, such a bed bottom includes a border frame, and a woven wire mattress 15 stretched thereon, suitable spacing bars or braces 16 and 17 being provided to hold the sides of the frame apart, as will be understood.

When the bedbottom is folded the three large sections 5, 7 and 9 are disposed in parallel spaced relation with the connecting sections 6 and 8 disposed perpendicularly thereto and serving to determine the degree of spacing, adapted for holding the bedding 20 in made-up form. The foot and middle sections have automatic locking means for holding the same in spaced parallel relation, with the corresponding part of the bedding inclosed thereby when they are folded over as a unit onto the head section.

The locking means are made in duplicate on each side of the bed bottom. Each lock comprises a pair of bars 23 and 24 each having one end turnably connected to the bed bottom adjacent to the joints 12 and 13 respectively, as at 25 and 26, said bars having their opposite ends mounted to slide longitudinallyon the adjacent side rails of the opposite sections 9 and 7 respectively, said rails being slotted at '27 and 28 to receive coacting shoulders or pins 29 and 30 for holding said bars in coactive relation with said rails. One of said bars 24: is provided medially with a longitudinal slot 32 and the other is providedwith a coacting shoulder or pin 33 in registry with said slot 32 whereby said bars cooperate in folding and unfolding the foot section with respect to the middle section. When the bed is folded the bars 23 and 24 are disposed crosswise (see Fig. 3), but when the bed is unfolded said bars are substantially parallel (see Figs. 1 and 2). One of the bars 21 may be straight or nearly so. The other bar 23 is bow-shaped and has a crook sidewise so as to clear the bar 24. The bar 23 has a. medial projection 35 on its concave edge for the guide shoulder 33. This construction permits a crossed relation of said bars even when they are straightened out beside the bed bottom, so as to give clearance for free operation of the lock.

Automatic legs 38 and 39 are turnably connected on each side of the bed bottom adjacent to the forward edges of the middle and foot sections respectively. Each leg 38 is pivoted to section 7 at 4:1 and is controlled by a link 42 pivoted to the leg at 4+3 and to section 6 at 44. Each foot section leg 39 is connected to the bed bottom by means of a shoulder or pivot stud 17 near the upper end of the leg, but spaced inward somewhat therefrom, said shoulder coacting with a longitudinal slot 19 in the side rail of the foot section and being adapted to secure the leg thereto. A link-50 has one end pivoted to the side rail of the foot section back of said slot at 52, and at its opposite end is turnably connected to the leg below said shoulder at 53. An operating link has one end connected. at the upper end of said leg at 56 and at its opposite end is turnably connected at 29 to the adjacent end of the locking bar 23. The foot section legs 39 are connected by a cross bar 58 adapted to serve as a handle whereby the lock may be disengaged auto-- matically in unfolding the bed bottom. Said bar 58 may to advantage be provided at the center with an attractive looking hand grip 60 so as to assure grasping said bar at the point most conducive to easy and efficient operation. A cross bar 62 is attached to the legs 38.

The link 55 is of such length and the pivot centers 56, 47, 53 and 52 for the leg 39 and link 50 are so arranged and spaced that when the sections are folded and the leg 39 swung down beside the foot section, said leg will spring past a critical compression point where the pivots 56, 17 and 29 are in alinement and the lock will be set. The action is in effect somewhat analogous or similar to that in a toggle joint.

The operation in unfolding the bed bottom is as follows: The middle and foot sections are first unfold-ed as a unit with re spect to the head section, and swung forward to the position shown in Fig. 3, as understood in the art, thereby unfolding the inner legs 38 automatically. The operator then grasps the middle of the cross bar 58, or the handle 60, on the foot section legs and lifting upward thereon, and pulling forward, disengages the resilient part of the lock and swings the foot section forward and downward to its bed position, the shoulders 29, 30 and 33 sliding in their slots 27, 28 and 32 toward the pivots 13, 12 and 26 respectively, thereby completing the unfolding operation and causing the foot section legs to assume their upright supporting position.

In folding the bed the operator grasps the foot rail and swings the foot section over onto the middle section, the shoulders 29, 30 and 33 sliding in their slots 27, 28 and 32 away from the pivots 13, 12 and 26 respectively. The legs 39 ordinarily swing down past the critical or locking point automatically, gravity and momentum assisting the action. In case this part of the lock fails to snap into its set position for any reason, as for instance too much bedding, the operator need only push down on the bar 58 and force the pivot 56 past the critical point and so cause the lock to set. The folding movement of the legs 39 is arrestedby contact with the lock members when substantially parallel with the side rails of the foot section, and by the bar 58 coming to rest against section 9.

The foot of the bedding may be secured to the foot rail by any of the fastenings Well known in the art, illustrated by the means 65 in Fig. 3, so that when the foot section is swung over on the middle section the bedding will not drop away from the foot section. When the foot section is locked in folded position on the middle section, the bedding is held tightly in place and is prevented thereby from sliding downward when the foot and middle sections. are swung over onto the head section, andvice versa.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that some of the details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. A foldable sectional bed bottom comprising a foot section, a medial section and a connecting section therefor, a leg turnably connected to the foot section adjacent to its free edge, a pair of coacting locking bars slidably connected and having turnable relation to each other, each having one end turnably connected to said connecting section adjacent to its ends respectively, said bars being disposed crosswise when said foot section is folded upon the medial section, the opposite ends of said bars being slidably connected for movement longitudi-- nally of said foot and medial sections respectively, and a link operatively connecting one of said bars and said leg.

2. A foldable sectional bed bottom comprising a head section, a middle section, a foot section and two connecting sections, legs turnably connected to the foot section on opposite sides adjacent to its free end, a cross bar connecting said legs, locking means on each side of the bed bottom for securing the foot section in folded relation upon the middle section, each of said means comprising a pair of bars pivoted to the bed bottom adjacent to the joints of the outer connecting section respectively, and the opposite ends of said bars being slidably connected to the oppositely disposed adjoining sections, means connecting said bars slidably with respect to each other, and links operatively connecting said legs and adjacent bars respectively.

3. A bed section lock comprising a pair of bars connected to the sections to be folded and locked, said bars being formed and arranged to lie crosswise when the bed is folded and substantially parallel when the bed is unfolded, one of said bars having a medial guide slot and the other a medial coacting shoulder, and means actuatedby the folding and unfolding of the bed connected to one of said bars for setting and releasing the lock.

4. A bed bottom, comprising a pair of bed sections arranged to fold one upon the other in spaced relation, and spacing means hinged at its edges to said sections respectively, in combination with locking means for securing said sections in their spaced folded relation, including a pair of bars each turnably connected at one end to said bed bottom adjacent to the hinges respectively for said spacing means, said bars coacting intermediately of their ends, one being slotted and the other shouldered to cooperate, said bars having their other ends slidably connected to the sections which are connected to said spacing means at the ends thereof that are opposite from the pivoted ends of said bars respectively, and means for setting and releasing said locking means.

5. A bed bottom, comprising an outer section, a medial section, and connecting means hinged thereto and arranged to space said sections apart when folded, in combination with a leg turnably connected to said outer section adjacent to its free edge, and locking means including abar pivoted at one end to the bed bottom adjacent to one of the hinges for said connecting means and at its other end connected slidably to the opposite of said sections, and another bar attached similarly with respect to the other hinge and section, said sections being slotted longitudinally to receive said bars slidably, said bars being slotted and shouldered respectively for coaction intermediately of their ends, and means operatively connecting said leg and the adjacent end of the nearest of said bars, said bars being disposed crosswise of each other when said sections are folded.

6. A foldable bed bottom, comprising a plurality of sections including an outer section, and an inner section, and a spacing section hinged together, in combination with a leg turnably connected to said outer section, said section having a longitudinal slot and said leg having a shoulder coacting therewith, said shoulder being near the 1 upper end of the leg but spaced somewhat therefrom, a link having one end pivoted to said outer section back of said slot and its other end pivoted to said leg below said shoulder, locking means for said sections, and a link connecting said locking means and the upper end of said leg.

7. A bed bottom comprising an outer section, an inner section, and a connecting section, legs turnably connected to the opposite sides of said outer section adjacent to its outer edge, and a cross bar adapted to serve as a handle for said legs below the bed bottom, in combination with locking means on each side of the bed for securing said sections in folded relation, said means comprising bars each having operative connection to a plurality of said sections both when folded and when unfolded, and means operatively connecting said locking means and legs respectively.

8. In a device of the class described, two broad sections and a narrow connecting section, in combination with locking means for securing said broad sections in spaced folded relation, said locking means including a pair of bars connected operatively to each other and to said broad sections respectively and overlapping each other when the sections are unfolded, the overlapped ends being at tached turnably to the connecting section, and means operatable manually for setting and releasing said lock when the sections are folded and unfolded respectively.

9. A bed bottom, comprising an outer section, an inner section and a connecting section hinged together, in combination with a folding leg for the outer section and a lock for securing said sections folded together; said lock including a medially shouldered bar pivoted at one end to the bed bottom adjacent to the hinge for the inner and connecting sections, the opposite end being shouldered and the outer section having a longitudinal guide for the shouldered end of said bar, and a second bar having a medial longitudinal slot coacting with the medial shoulder on the first bar, similarly attached at one end adjacent to the hinge for the outer and connecting sections and at its opposite end to the inner section, said leg having an upward projection and a link connecting the free end of said projection and the adjacent end of the first bar, said leg and link having a toggle-like action for springing into locked position and pulling the first bar outward toward the free edge of the outer section.

10. A bed bottom, comprising an outer section and an inner section connected foldably, in combination with a leg having intermediately of its length a turning connection with said outer section, and a pivot at its upper end, a bar having adjacent to one end a shoulder slidably connected to the side rail of said outer section for longitudinal movement, its other end having a pivot attached to the bed bottom adjacent to the outer edge of the inner section, and a link having one end connected to said shoulder and its other end connected to said pivot at the upper end of the leg, said pivot being somewhat out of 'alinement with said shoulder and connection when said bed bottom and leg are unfolded, and being forcibly swingable past the point of alinement for locking and releasing in folding and unfolding by the swinging of the leg toward and away from said outer section. 7

11. A foldable bed bottom, comprising a pair of main sections and a connecting memher in combination with a leg turnably connected to one of said sections, a pair of locking bars turnably connected to said bed bottom adjacent to the joints of said connecting member respectively, said bars having their opposite ends slidably connected to said main sections respectively which are disposed oppositely from said joints respectively, one of said bars having a medial guide part and the other having a medial part formed to co-act oscillatively therewith, and means operatively connecting said leg and one of said bars, said bars being disposed crosswise when said sections are folded. I

Signed at Chicago this 15th day of July,

HENRY M. SVEBILIUS.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

